UCI’s Oliver retiring

UC Irvine announced Tuesday that women’s basketball coach Doug Oliver will retire at the end of this season.

Oliver, in his fourth season guiding the Anteaters’ women’s program, was an assistant for the UCI women one year prior to taking over. He also served two seasons as an assistant for the UCI men’s program.

Oliver was 34-60 his first three seasons at the helm of the UCI women, who are 3-13, 0-2 in the Big West Conference, entering this week.

A 41-year veteran of coaching, Oliver’s career includes 14 seasons as a men’s assistant at Stanford. He was also the head men’s coach at Idaho State (1998 through 2006).

“I appreciate the opportunity and support [UCI Athletic Director] Mike Izzi and the administration have given me,” Oliver said in a statement. “It’s just time. I’ve enjoyed coaching here and look forward to the program moving forward.

“For the rest of the season the expectations are the same,” Oliver said. “We will prepare and play hard to win every league game. It is business as usual when it comes to competing for the rest of the year.”

— From staff reports